you got through?" inquired Mr. Ferris, nettled.

Mr. Orcutt took his seat with the simple reply:

"Go on with the case."

The District Attorney, after a momentary pause to regain the thread of
his examination and recover his equanimity, turned to the witness.

"Miss Dare," he asked, "how long did you keep that ring on your finger
after you left the house?"

"A little while--five or ten minutes, perhaps."

"Where were you when you took it off?"

Her voice sank just a trifle:

"On the bridge at Warren Street."

"What did you do with it then?"

Her eyes which had been upon the Attorney's face, fell slowly.

"I dropped it into the water," she said.

And the character of her thoughts and suspicions at that time stood
revealed.

The Prosecuting Attorney allowed himself a few more questions.

"When you parted with the prisoner in the woods, was it with any
arrangement for meeting again before he returned to Buffalo?"

"No, sir."

"Give us the final words of your conversation, if you please."

"We were just parting, and I had turned to go, when he said: 'Is it
good-by, then, Imogene?' and I answered, 'That to-morrow must decide.'
'Shall I stay, then?' he inquired; to which I replied, 'Yes.'"

'Twas a short, seemingly literal, repetition of possibly innocent words,
but the whisper into which her voice sank at the final "Yes" endowed it
with a thrilling effect for which even she was not prepared. For she
shuddered as she realized the deathly quiet that followed its utterance,
and cast a quick look at Mr. Orcutt that was full of question, if not
doubt.

"I was calculating upon the interview I intended to have with Mrs.
Clemmens," she explained, turning toward the Judge with indescribable
dignity.

"We understand that," remarked the Prosecuting Attorney, kindly, and
then inquired:

"Was this the last you saw of the prisoner until to-day?"

"No, sir."

"When did you see him again?"

"On the following Wednesday."

"Where?"

"In the depot at Syracuse."

"How came you to be in Syracuse the day after the murder?"

"I had started to go to Buffalo."

"What purpose had you in going to Buffalo?"

"I wished to see Mr. Mansell."

"Did he know you were coming?"

"No, sir."

"Had no communication passed between you from the time you parted in the
woods till you came upon each other in the depot you have just
mentioned?"

"No, sir."

"Had he no reason to expect to meet you there?"

"No, sir."